Scott Pohlson

VERMILLION, S.D. -- Scott Pohlson has been named Vice President of Enrollment, Marketing and University Relations at the University of South Dakota effective June 9.

For the past two years, Pohlson served as an executive consultant with Noel-Levitz, Inc. where he conducted custom financial aid consulting for more than a dozen clients on everything from retention reporting to developing enrollment management plans. Prior to serving as an executive consultant with Noel-Levitz, Pohlson was dean of enrollment at USD from 2010 to 2012. While at USD, Pohlson managed student recruitment while assisting USD’s efforts with the continued development of an effective financial aid and scholarship leveraging system.

“Scott provides the University of South Dakota with experience in several areas that are important to growing our campus, including student recruitment strategies, retention and using analytical models that will improve the efficiency of campus admissions,” said James W. Abbott, USD President. “We are excited to have Scott return to campus in this role and to enlist his leadership at USD.”

Pohlson has several years of experience working with both private and public universities in student recruitment and financial aid. His campus partnerships during his tenure at Noel-Levitz increased enrollment at Benedictine College more than 9 percent in first-year non-athlete students and in 2012, assisted enrollment growth at Michigan Tech University by more than 11 percent. In 2009, Kent State University saw an increase in enrollment for 2009 of 12.7 percent, helping Kent State to gain $6.42 million in net tuition revenue. Pohlson also assisted in developing a recruitment strategy at Creighton University that led to a 15 percent increase in applications. His efforts helped Creighton enroll its fourth largest class.

“I’m excited about the opportunities that USD has to offer, especially the University’s focus on a traditional, campus-based learning environment,” stated Pohlson, a native of Grinnell, Iowa. “You can see that in the investments that have been made in outstanding campus facilities and the tremendous focus on making the student experience at USD the best it can be. I think the future is bright at USD and I’m glad to be a part of it.”

Pohlson received his M.B.A. in business management from Creighton University and a B.A. in business economics from Coe College. He and his wife, Amy, have two children: Olivia, 2, and Will, six weeks. A photo of Pohlson is available for download at www.usd.edu/press/news/images/releases/Scott_Pohlson.jpg.

ABOUT USD

Founded in 1862 and the first university in the Dakotas, the University of South Dakota is the only public liberal arts university in the state, with 206 undergraduate and 71 graduate programs in the College of Arts & Sciences, School of Education, School of Law, Sanford School of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, Beacom School of Business and College of Fine Arts. With an enrollment of nearly 10,000 students and more than 400 faculty, USD has a 17:1 student/faculty ratio, and it ranks among the best in academics and affordability. USD’s 17 athletic programs compete at the NCAA Division I level.

This material is available in an alternate format upon request. Please contact University Relations at 605-677-5759. If you are a person with a disability and need a special accommodation to fully participate in any university activity or event, please contact Disability Services at 605-677-6389 as soon as possible, but no later than 48 hours before the event, so that appropriate arrangements may be made.